Sweet Potato Chili Nachos - Wyse Guide (2024)

A game day favorite, this sweet potato spin on nachos is easily customizable for any crowd. Roasted sweet potato slices form a solid, textured base. Thick beef chili with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and beans forms the filling, while creamy pepper jack cheese forms the top. A balanced combination of sweet and savory, this nacho dish will disappear as quickly as it was made!

Why I love this recipe.

Nachos are synonymous with any game-watching food. They can take many forms but often are a tray of tortilla chips drenched in a pourable cheese sauce. Think of a concession stand, and that is what most people know nachos as. Growing up, every Sunday night, we had “chips and cheese,” which were a simple form of nachos. They were on our everyday Corelle dinner plates (butterfly gold pattern if you want to reminisce), and we layered chips with shredded cheese and then melted it quickly in the microwave. Both of these are nachos, and both are perfect in their own right. This recipe reinvents the idea of nachos using roasted sweet potatoes as the “chips” and layering them with a quick stove-top chili and shredded cheese. The sweet potatoes give a perfect balance to the chili with a sweet and creamy texture. The final dish is layered in a large sheet pan to serve a crowd or become a weeknight meal for a family.

Everything you’ll need to make this recipe.

• Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants and fiber. They have a great flavor that compliments the chili. Once roasted, they have a slight crust that helps them hold their shape like a chip.
• Kidney beans give a hearty texture to the chili.
• Chili powder is a blend of dry spices that will add complexity and depth to the chili without spicey heat.
• Ground beef is used in the chili to create a thick soup that works to layer on the chili instead of eating from a bowl.

Here’s how to make this recipe.

1. Roast the sweet potatoes. Evenly slice the sweet potatoes into thin strips. Toss the slices in olive oil. Spread into an even layer on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Season with salt. Place into a 425°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the slices have browned.

2. Prepare the chili. Mince the garlic. Finely dice the onion and bell peppers. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and season with salt. Add the chopped peppers. Cook until the onion turns translucent, about 4 to 6 minutes.

3. Cook the ground beef. Add the ground beef to the pan. Once it has cooked, add in the cumin and chili powder and stir. Stir in the tomato paste, coating everything in the pan. Add in the kidney beans and diced tomatoes. Stir and let simmer.

4. Assemble the dish. On one pan, push the potato slices closely together, overlapping slightly. Evenly layer half the chili over the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle half the pepper jack cheese over the top. Take the sweet potatoes from the other pan and lay on the cheese, overlapping slightly. Cover with the remainder of the chili, then the cheese. Place back in the preheated 425°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese has melted. Serve warm. If desired, garnish with cilantro, avocado, peppers, or additional cheese.

These pro tips will make this recipe a success.

• Use the convection setting on the oven, if possible. The convection setting uses a fan in the oven to move the hot air around. This creates a more even roasting environment for the potatoes.
• Using leaner beef means less liquid from the beef. Use what you prefer, but you may need to drain the beef if there is excess liquid. 90% lean beef works well and does not usually need to be drained.
• Freshly shredded cheese boosts the flavor of the dish. Shredding the cheese from a block gives a softer and more flavorful cheese.
• If you want a browner dish, broil for 1 to 2 minutes. This will cook the cheese on top and achieve a deeper golden-brown look.

Frequently asked questions about this recipe.

You’ll love these other game day recipes.

• Cheese-stuffed pizza bites
• Slow cooker Italian roasted pork sandwich
• Sweet corn guacamole
• Classic sloppy Joe’s
• Crowd pleaser ham and cheese sliders
• Pulled pork sheet pan nachos
• Pulled pork sliders
• Butternut squash cheese dip
• Stadium nachos

Watch how to make this recipe.

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